Does therapy actually work?
The problem
I have been seeing a therapist for about a year and a half now and have seen no noticeable differences that can be attributed back to it. In a world where even celebrities are candid about their mental health, I seem to be in the minority. Over 59 million adults see therapists in the United States alone. Many report positive results. I write all this hours away from a therapy appointment myself.
Why I started going in the first place
A part of going through the approval process for bariatric surgery includes seeing a psychologist. The psychologist’s task is to determine any underlying psychological issues that may affect post-operative success with the ultimate goal of determining the candidate’s mental preparedness for the significant lifestyle changes required after bariatric surgery. The psychologist ultimately recommended (required) me to see a talk therapist as part of him signing off on my paperwork.
Here’s the problem. As a 911 dispatcher, I am exposed to things that the normal public is not. As such, I require a little bit extra out of a therapist. I needed someone who could understand the unique situations that public safety officers go through. I explained this to the psychologist, and he ultimately agreed, likening the job to being a bit like therapy in its own regards. He recommended searching for a therapist who sees other therapists. A bit of a comedian’s comedian sort of situation.
After doing some research, I found out that Lighthouse, a company that provides various peer support services specific to public safety, provides a 50-hour certification course for therapists to become specialized in handling the therapy needs of first responders. They also helpfully provide a directory that lists all therapists per state who have completed their program. I found a therapist in my state who had the most certifications, including a master's, next to their name, reached out, and they agreed to take me on as a client. We’ve been having monthly sessions for a little over a year now.
My experience with therapy
I guess I should disclose that I wouldn’t have started talk therapy unless the psychologist had all but forced me to in order to get through that part of my surgery approval. It’s not that I don’t believe therapy works; I’ve just never personally benefited from talking about my perceived problems. For all the fussing I did over finding a therapist that specialized in dealing with first responders, I think I’ve only talked about something work-related that’s bothered me twice. I don’t know if that’s because I’ve hardened to some of the things that I’ve heard at work or if I just don’t like talking about it in general. Or maybe my problems lately just happen to lie elsewhere.
Maybe I’m the problem
Perhaps I haven’t been fully open and honest with the therapist during our sessions. Sometimes it’s just easier to put on a smile and act like everything is fine. It’s worked the last 33 years; why shouldn’t it now? So maybe it’s my fault that I’m not getting much out of it. I have been fairly open recently, though it still doesn’t seem like it’s really helping very much.
Don't get me wrong, I think that therapy is great for a lot of people. Maybe just not me.